CEDAR FALLS — Five UNI faculty members and one graduate student — representing fields from music and education to engineering and astrochemistry — have been awarded funding and support to advance early‑stage ideas through the university’s Intellectual Property and Innovation Disclosure Competition IV.

The winners of the Intellectual Property and Innovation Disclosure Competition IV responded to the call in the fall of 2025 for proposals, and their ideas are recognized as having potential for new scholarship or extending existing scholarship projects that show promise or commercial potential.

Each innovator submitted ideas in their respective areas of academia and was notified that they each won a $500 prize and additional support from the university to move forward with the following projects:

• Maddy Tarantelli, assistant professor of instruction in horn in the School of Music
  To help people learn to play an instrument more quickly and with greater facility, Tarantelli has developed a practice method that supports students in practicing on their own, rather than with specific concepts. This method breaks down learning scales using incremental steps, helping students hone foundational skills found in their music. This idea is part of a method book that will help students achieve success in their individual practice and overall musical fluency. 
   
• Nashiru Muniru, graduate student in applied engineering
  Muniru developed Tap-Dom, an AI-driven platform that brings together sustainable fashion, event discovery, and social impact. This early-stage platform connects consumers with ethical brands and local events through personalized AI recommendations tailored to each user’s interests and location. Initial pilot testing with over 20 vendors and 100 users demonstrated strong engagement, with vendor visibility increasing by more than 60%. 
   
• Magdalena Galloway, associate professor of instruction in the College of Education
  Galloway is creating an AI-powered agent to improve student performance on the Foundations of Reading Test (FoRT), a teacher licensure exam required in Iowa and Wisconsin. The exam assesses pre-service teachers’ understanding of reading theory and practice and requires an essay that includes appropriate terminology and demonstrates accurate knowledge. The AI agent will provide an interactive coaching experience: critiquing responses, asking guiding questions that lead to improvement, and offering practical suggestions for revision. By combining targeted critique with reflective questioning and examples, the tool becomes a personalized, judgment-free learning partner in a low-stakes environment. 
   
• Lawrence Escalada, professor of physics and science education
  Escalada has identified the opportunity to update the Physics Resources and Instructional Strategies for Motivating Students (PRISMS) PLUS high school physics curriculum to adhere to the new Iowa Academic Standards for Science. PRISMS PLUS is an internationally recognized high school physics curriculum resource developed by UNI faculty in collaboration with high school physics teachers. To better align with the new standards, the curriculum resource will be updated to include new physics phenomena that students can connect with, such as amusement park rides, toys and gadgets, sports and automobiles. The updated PRISMS PLUS, aligned with current Iowa Standards, will be used in courses at UNI and in workshops for existing teachers. Escalada is exploring the possibility of marketing these materials nationally through the National Science Teaching Association bookstore.
   
• Josh Sebree, associate professor of astrochemistry and astrobiology
  Caves are delicate systems that require minimally invasive methods of analysis to understand geological history. Sebree has discovered a crystal formation that rings with an audible noise when light shines on it. Photoacoustic phenomena such as this have never been observed in a naturally occurring large crystal formation. This award will allow him to develop a standard “through air” setup for doing these types of in situ non-destructive studies. Through a combination of 3D-printed parts and a circuitry program, the device can more effectively record the photoacoustic effects and apply them in the field to study some of the most delicate crystals that form underground.
   
• Terence Moriarty, assistant professor of kinesiology and physical education
  Smart garments for physiological monitoring are rapidly expanding in athletics, military training and occupational safety, but existing products are expensive and not tailored for heat-stress applications. Moriarty will develop a low-cost heat-stress smart shirt prototype that integrates textile stretch sensors (for breathing rate), skin-temperature sensors, and heart rate monitors into a single compression garment. The goal is to capture real-time physiological responses during cycling/running or real-life labor simulations like firefighting. This innovation not only enhances data collection in UNI’s own heat-stress and performance studies but also creates a scalable tool for athletes, firefighters, soldiers, and industrial workers who need personalized heat-readiness monitoring.

“This year’s winners demonstrate how many innovative faculty we have from all parts of the university,” said Bill Harwood, science and technology officer and professor emeritus of the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department at UNI. “The university has support available to develop the commercial potential for these and other innovations. We encourage faculty, staff, and students to share their ideas anytime.”

UNI is committed to encouraging, facilitating and promoting the development of patentable or copyrightable intellectual property and know-how to benefit the inventor, UNI’s educational mission, the industry and the people of Iowa. 

The fifth disclosure competition will take place in the fall of 2026. For more information or to learn about intellectual property at UNI, visit https://jpec.uni.edu/programs/intellectual-property-office.